State Assemblymember Lori Soldana (76th District) held a community outreach night for the Monarch School, San Diego, California. Founded in 1988, the Monarch School and its committed team of teachers, administrators and volunteers is dedicated to providing homeless and at-risk children with an accredited education while caring for their basic needs. In 2005 more than 100 kids between the ages of 7 and 18 are enrolled at Monarch School. California Space Grant Foundation donated more that four boxes of school supplies and Christmas gifts that were combined with the generous contributions provided by the evenings other guests and corporate sponsors. Mr. Philip Smith and Mr. Lisa Renzi of CSGF were in attendance together with Mr. John Monte, a CSGF team member. For more information about the Monarch School go to http://www.monarchschools.org/index.shtml or see the Monte Consulting press release.

Ben Foorozan of the Rendezvous Science Center hosted an open house at RSC’s La Jolla Education Center introducing the city to its newest K-6 science and math education center. The Rendezvous Science Center is a grass roots partnership of NASA’s AERO Institute (www.aeroi.org) the California Space Grant Foundation and concerned parents. CSGF provides standards based, inquiry based science curriculum and materials taught by RSC staff at after school programs and camps. For more information or to donate contact Nadia Fabian (RSC), 858-454-9600, nfabian@rendezvouscenter.com or Sharon Freeburn (CSGF), 619-847-5518, sfreeburn@csgf.org�

CGSF personnel have joined with the Space 2006 Education Alley Team. This year the theme for this major space conference is The Value Proposition for Space – Security, Discovery, Prosperity.  Every year a large portion of the conference floor is dedicated to reaching young people throughout the city in which the conference is held.  The conference is being sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation, NASA Ames Research Center and the U.S. Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center and will be held at the San Jose Convention Center 19 – 21 Sep 2006.�

Working engineers in the Antelope Valley aerospace industry will be earning Master of Science degrees from the 7th-ranked University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering next semester – without ever stepping foot on campus. Today Phil Smith of the  Aerospace Education Research and Operations (AERO) Institute publicly signed an MOU solidifying a strategic partnership with the Viterbi School’s Distance Education Network (DEN), the leading distance learning graduate engineering program in the nation at a special day-long event.  Engineers from organizations such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, NASA Dryden, Edwards Air Force Base, Northrop Grumman, and China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center will be offered the opportunity to advance their education while balancing work and family.  The event was attended by Mayor Jim Ledford of Palmdale California and Kevin Peterson DFRC Director.�

Mr. Jim Grady, CSGF COO attend the Japan-U.S. Science, Technology and Space Applications Program (JUSTSAP.  This multi-national organization focuses on the new space exploration policies and programs being developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as well as the opportunities these present for bilateral collaboration between Japan and the United States. Special Working Group Sessions devoted to satellite communications, disaster management, low-gravity and materials research, space power systems, and small satellite/commercial launch infrastructures.  JUSTSAP is supported by NASA, JAXA, the East-West Center, the Pacific Disaster Center and the State of Hawaii.�

Mr. Phil Smith provided the Key Note luncheon address at the 1st First Conference on the Commercialization of Unmanned Aviation held at Embry Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus.  The Conference, co-hosted by the AERO Institute (a CSGF partnership) aimed to bring together key industry, government, and academic leaders in an efficient and productive forum to discuss the challenges of expanding unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the commercial realm.  Issues such as economics, business case development, safety assessments and case development, human factors, underwriting, and pilot training were covered by senior practitioners openly and comprehensively.�

In our continuing effort to work with existing education organizations within California Ms. Sharon Freeburn and Ms. Debra Barnes attended the California Science Education Conference in Palmdale, California.  The California Science Education Conference is the premier annual professional development event for science educators. Conference events address all areas of science education, including life science, earth & space science, physical science, environmental science, literacy, English language development, assessment, and technology.�

Dr. Michael Wiskerchen, Mr. James Grady and Mr. Philip Smith presented papers at the Advance Technology Working Group workshop held at NASA Ames Research Park’s Conference Center.  The theme of the workshop was Earth Orbit Viable Oasis Stepping Stones to Lunar, Mars and Beyond.  ATWG is a technical forum chartered originally by NASA Headquarters in early 1990 and rechartered in 1998. The purpose of the ATWG is to facilitate an open dialogue between Government, Industry and Academia concerning advanced space technology issues opportunities. The participants in the ATWG forums include space experts from throughout NASA, aerospace contractors, leading systems suppliers, entrepreneurial businesses, professional societies, and universities. The ATWG has been seeking improvements in existing and developing space systems through planned application of emerging technologies and the development of new ways of doing business, including distributed missions and operations concepts. These strategies are evolving from the collective wisdom of key government, industry and academia experts.  For more information go to: http://www.atwg.org/index.html. �

The California Space Grant Foundation team hosted the 2nd Alliance For Commercial Enterprises in Space Workshop at the AMES Research Park Conference Center. In order to firmly maintain the United States’ leadership in commercial space development, the Alliance for Commercial Enterprises in Space, working with NASA’s commercial space initiative, will accelerate space infrastructure advancements enabling thriving commercial space markets.

This initiative began by focusing on the microgravity Biotechnology research industry. On June 21st and 22nd over 80 experts in the fields of space biotechnology and space infrastructure came together near NASA Ames Research Center to discuss how our nation could:

• Realize the full potential of commercial space microgravity research platforms to benefit work in infectious diseases, aging counter-measures and pharmaceutical research, thereby benefiting all Americans and
• Realize the full potential of the emerging commercial low earth orbit space infrastructure industry to reduce International Space Station and low earth orbit access costs

We were honored to have the support of distinguished individuals as keynote speakers and participants at the Commercial Space Opportunities Forum including Nobel Prize Winner Baruch Blumberg, MD, PhD and Astronaut Don Pettit, PhD. For more information go to www.alliancespace.net.

The California Space Grant Foundation welcomed Mr. Frank Henzel to our team today. Frank joins the AERO Institute as a Training and Education Specialist supporting the Dryden Learning Center. Frank has years of logistics and training experience in the Federal Government. Frank will be responsible for Day-to-day support of the Dryden Learning Center operations; administrative support for course set-up and course evaluations; database maintenance; on-site course delivery activities; and outreach activities. Welcome Frank.